Effective May 1, 2013 Operation Open Arms will dedicate itself to the care and treatment of PTSD. Our new criteria for eligibility will be (a) Documentation of treatment for PTSD by a military hospital or VA Facility (b) Documentation of appointment/counseling with OOA Mental Health Professional.

On April 19, 2013 Operation Open Arms celebrated 8 years of extending free one week vacation to 2,502 US Servicemen and Servicewomen. In this time OOA also sponsored 99 free full service weddings. Our former criteria was “Active Duty returning from combat and/or foreign duty stations.”

The reason for this change is very simple to understand. The Department of Defense recently made a startling disclosure. More US Troops are taking their own lives than our enemy. Operation Open Arms must change. Our charity is now in the life saving business and we will make a difference.

Capt John “GiddyUp” Bunch
Founder/OOA

Operation Open Arms is a nationally acclaimed military outreach program founded in 2005 (as featured on the NBC Today Show) and is the only 501(c)3 public Florida charity honored by two sitting United States Presidents. Designated a public charity by the IRS in 2008, Operation Open Arms has no payroll or salaries. OOA is void of political or religious affiliation.

Since 2005, beautiful Southwest Florida has become our nation’s most popular leave destination for US Troops for good reason. Those serving in combat or foreign duty stations can visit Southwest Florida and enjoy R&R benefits free of charge thanks to the Operation Open Arms’ network of local sponsors of the charity. Operation Open Arms of Southwest Florida has provided charitable resources for over 1,900 US Troops and their families since its founding.

Our organization has a very simple mission statement:

To provide US Service men and women visiting Southwest Florida every conceivable benefit during their two week combat leave or return from a foreign duty station.

Operation Open Arms started with one fishing captain providing a free fishing charter to one service man whose only wish was to go fishing while on combat leave. It has expanded to a network of over 150 local businesses, associations, and individuals that support our troops with more than words—they enthusiastically contribute time, energy, expertise, equipment, facilities, and much more.

To Our Troops

Operation Open Arms is a network of business owners and individuals in Florida who wish to relieve the total cost of your combat leave vacation. The Operation Open Arms family of local sponsors will seek to provide every possible act of tangible kindness in recognition of your service, multiple deployments, and hardships cause by prolonged separation to military families. Operation Open Arms has never denied benefits to any eligible US Service man or woman.

How to receive benefits

Please read the eligibility information to verify you are able to receive benefits and get other vital participant information about our charity. Operation Open Arms is self administrating. Making a reservation or appointment within the OOA network is no different than making arrangements within the military.

*Operation Open Arms and our sponsors do not provide alcohol or tobacco products to US Troops.